Release 2026 R1 includes the following solution enhancements:
Ansys HPC Platform Services (HPS) Improvements for Structural Optimization
Mechanical now supports direct referencing of result and database files from upstream analyses when performing Structural Optimization with HPS Solve.
When solving with HPS, Mechanical no longer downloads and reuploads result (*.rst) and database (*.db) files from upstream analyses to downstream Structural Optimization systems.
These files are referenced directly on the server, reducing costly file I/O operations.
After the Structural Optimization solution completes, the *.rst file no longer must be downloaded for post-processing. Mechanical accesses it directly.
Display File Download Rate While Downloading Results
In addition, when downloading files from HPS, Mechanical now displays:
The current file download rate.
Individual file sizes.
The total amount downloaded during the operation.
This visibility helps you better understand transfer performance and progress when working with large result files.
Resource Prediction. This feature:
Now incorporates hardware performance characteristics from the HPC Platform Services (HPS) queue, when available, to provide more accurate estimates for solution times and memory usage.
Has been enhanced to display a prompt recommending the use of the GPU acceleration capability in order to improve performance.
New Mixed Solver Type for Structural Analyses. A new solver type, Mixed, is now available for Static Structural and Transient Structural analyses. This option combines the strengths of both the sparse and PCG solvers, offering improved speed and memory efficiency without compromising accuracy. See the EQSLV command in the Mechanical APDL Command Reference for more information.
Solution Statistics. When you choose to use GPU acceleration, the Solution Statistics worksheet (Solution Information > Solution Output) now provides new GPU related information in the HPC Metrics section of the worksheet, such as the selected card and whether GPU acceleration was beneficial for the solution.